Based in Melbourne, and originally comprising of musicians who all once graced the halls of ANAM, Affinity Quartet have blazed their own trail internationally, having won several competitions including the International Chamber Music Competition In 2023. They make their return to ANAM after representing Australia at Rheingau Music Festival with acclaimed violist, composer and former ANAM Artistic Director, Brett Dean, where they performed string quartet compositions by both Dean and Haydn.
"I am very excited Affinity Quartet has this opportunity to return to ANAM in 2026 doing what we love most, which is exploring and performing chamber music repertoire. Haydn’s Seven Last Words of Christ is a rarely performed, spiritual work comprising seven adagio movements.
AQ will work with the ANAM string quartets towards two complete performances of this unique work, sharing between us its structural breadth and beauty. As an ANAM alumna, where I formed Affinity more than a decade ago, it is very special for me to return with my colleagues to share what we’ve learned studying and travelling the world as a string quartet." – Mee Na Lojewski, cello 2014, Fellow 2015
In this unique Chapel concert, they’ll return to Haydn, the widely acknowledged father of string quartet music as we know it, and apply their craft to the meditative sections of Seven Last Words. Each is based on an expression attributed to Christ during his crucifixion, and is bookended by a contemplative introduction and a hectic conclusion akin to an ‘earthquake’ based on Matthew 27:51: the temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom, the earth shook, and the rocks split. This ‘tearing of the veil’ symbolises humanity’s sudden access to God.
Naturally, this work was commissioned by a priest, who paid Haydn in a suitably symbolic way: sending him a cake which, when cut, was revealed to have been filled with gold coins.
Joseph HAYDN The Seven Last Words of Christ, Hob. XX:1b
Affinity Quartet:
Shane Chen (Alum 2012) violin
Nicholas Waters (Alum 2013) violin
Josef Hanna (Alum 2021) viola
Mee Na Lojewski (Alum 2014) cello
ANAM String Quartets
Duration: approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes (no interval)
BECOME AN ANAMATE AND GET MATES RATESANAMates members receive a complimentary ticket each year (subject to terms and conditions), plus a 10% discount to ANAM ticketed concerts and free access to ANAM Masterclasses, Recitals and Soundbites. |
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Image credit: Kristoffer Paulsen, supplied by Affinity Quartet